The Black Dune sect patriarch and the Light Harmony sect patriarch looked on at Lin Mu with anticipation while the rest did the same. To them, there was no reason why Lin Mu would deny an offer like this.

Any of the three sects would be a good option, though the people belonging to each of the sect hoped that Lin Mu would join them. All of them could see the value in him joining them, but at the same time felt a little envious that the position of the patriarch after that would be all but gone for them.

Even if these elders didn't have that great of a chance of becoming the patriarch, one could always dream. Once that was taken away entirely, it was a cold splash that would rudely awaken them from the dream, which wasn't exactly comfortable.

"I… Reject." Lin Mu firmly stated.

"WHAT?!"

"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?"

"This is absurd!"

"Has he gone mad?"

A variety of question and words were let out by the people in the hall as they were absolutely shocked by Lin Mu's answer. They had not expected for him to entirely reject them like this.

"Are you sure you don't want to think more?" Patriarch Shandian questioned.

"Yes, take more time. You don't have to answer us today, either." The Light Harmony Sect's Patriarch added.

But You Yi already had a knowing expression on his face.

"My decision is final. I do not want to be the heir of the sects. I don't think that is the right thing for me and it would be unfair to the sect as well. I cannot tell how things would go in the future and there are chances I may not be here to be there for the sects.

Even if I do join one, my departure would only leave the duties unfulfilled. That would be a grave mistake on my part, and I do not want the sect to bear that. Additionally, all the others who may have been striving for the position and working for it would be greatly disappointed.

If anything, this would be an insult to their effort and work. I do not want to deny them that either." Lin Mu explained.

Hearing Lin Mu's answer, the elders were surprised, but also felt a bit better at the same time. The answer that Lin Mu gave was shocking to them, but the explanation was enough to allay that.

~Sigh~

The Long Cloud Sect patriarch sighed to himself, while the Black Dune sect patriarch felt a little disappointed. The Light Harmony sect patriarch was in a similar situation and seemed to be thinking something.

"If that is your answer, then I'm fine with it." The Light Harmony Sect Patriarch spoke. "But if you ever change your answer in the figure, the option will be open." He said before throwing Lin Mu a token.

Lin Mu caught it and looked at what was written on it; Mingliang.

"That is my token. It will allow you to request certain things from the sect and the same level of authority as an elder as well. Your Dao Shell realm cultivation base already puts you at the same level as a High Elder anyway. So you may as well be a guest elder." The Light Harmony Sect's Patriarch Mingliang stated.

"Hey, now you're being forward!" Patriarch Shandian said before taking out a token and tossing it to Lin Mu as well.

"I offer the same. Let this be known, Lin Mu is now a guest elder of the Black Dune Sect!" Patriarch Shandian declared.

Patriarch You Yi simply stood there smiling while Jing Luo did the same.

"Very well. I guess I can accept this much." Lin Mu said, thinking that it would not be good if he denied them this much as well.

"This is good, it will allow your authority among the people of the sect to strengthen. It will help you function better in the alliance." Xukong spoke.

"Mmm… that's why I took it senior." Lin Mu replied before looking at the three patriarch.

"Well… we should start the oath ceremony, shouldn't we? Best to get it done." Lin Mu proposed.

"Of course!" Patriarch Shandian said out loud.

Soon Lin Mu took the lead in reciting the oath, while the others repeated after him. The ones that had already taken it, simply stood there in silence while the ceremony progressed. In just a few minutes, it was completed and the oath was forged.

The skies shook that day for a second and everyone in the world felt it but couldn't tell what had happened. All over the sects that didn't know of this ceremony thought that it might have been some rare phenomenon or just something unknown.

There was no lack of such things happening these days, and there were a lot more unexplained things adding to their woes. Thus, expect for the more anxious and vigilant cultivators, the rest forgot it quickly.

***

In the Forbidden Continent there were vast tracts of frozen lands and snow capped peaks that dotted the land.

Between a few such unassuming peaks, there was an ancient temple. It looked like it had stood the test of time and looked very old. There were dead leafless trees spread around the temple, which was strange since the continent was always covered in snow thus the trees growing here were rarely seen.

Then there was the most eye catching feature which as the large bronze bell that hung from the top of the temple. The bell was at least ten meters tall and seven meters wide. There were tribal carvings on the bell that looked esoteric.

There were beasts, humans, devils and many other beings carved on it, looking mysterious.

The bell, which had not moved for a long time, suddenly shuddered today.

~HONG~

A faint wave of vibrations spread through the surroundings, dousing the frozen lands with them. Several pairs of eyes opened upon hearing it, each having different expressions in them; some surprised, some serious.

"The ancestral bell rings…" holds © this.